Celebrity Alaska Cruise Ports

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You go on an Alaskan cruise because you want to be wowed by nature’s beauty. It sure is nice to sail with a cruise line like Celebrity that provides a plethora of extras like an at sea glass-blowing show (you heard me), a kids camp and even in-room babysitting. Incredible dining options add to the allure. Still, mother nature is the star of any Alaskan cruise, with stunning views from every angle while at sea and incredible adventures in ports. If you’re considering cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage, here’s a round-up of Celebrity Alaska cruise ports to tempt your travel palate.

Ketchikan, Alaska

There are plenty of Celebrity Cruise shore excursions that focus on wildlife from which to choose in each port. But the ultimate Alaskan prize for me was a bear. My desire to see bears in the wild was what inspired my family’s Alaskan cruise in the first place. My wish to see a wild bear in Alaska came true in Ketchikan. Read more in Searching for Bears Near Ketchikan, Alaska with Celebrity Cruise Line.

Black bear near Skagway, Alaska

Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska

Words like, “Wow,” and “Oh my God,” will involuntarily fall from your lips when you set eyes on the Sawyer Glacier as you sail through Tracy Arm Fjord. Listed as a port, you don’t actually dock in Tracy Arm Fjord. For this portion of your cruise, the journey truly is the destination. In addition to the impressive Sawyer Glacier, you will see waterfalls trickling down giant mountains topped with snow, and water an aqua blue so beautiful, it seems unreal. Bundle up on your balcony to take in the view and snap photo after photo. If you book a room sans balcony, there are plenty of chairs and blankets available outside on the upper decks or you can sit indoors and take in the epic scenery from various vantage points aboard your Celebrity Cruise ship. A naturalist provides narration and education from a loudspeaker broadcast throughout public areas.

Sawyer Glacier as seen from our Celebrity Cruise stateroom balcony while sailing through Tracy Arm Fjord

Juneau, Alaska

The star attraction in Alaska’s capital city, Juneau is Mendenhall Glacier. Most excursions include a visit to this massive (yet sadly retreating) glacier. Take the Aerial Tramway to the top of Mount Roberts for expansive views of Juneau (on clear days) and hiking trails aplenty. Read more about What to Do in Juneau, Alaska with Kids.

Mount Roberts Aerial Tramway in Juneau, Alaska

Skagway, Alaska

My family’s favorite day during our Celebrity Alaska cruise was spent with a pack of Alaskan huskies in the port of Skagway. After this exhilarating and all-out fun adventure, we explored the picturesque town’s offerings like a darling fudge shop, wee town park, and smattering of souvenir stores. Learn more in Summer Dog-sledding in Skagway, Alaska with Kids.

My son petting an Alaskan husky during our dog-sledding adventure in Skagway

Victoria, British Columbia

The renowned Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia was a must-see for this botanic garden-loving Travel Mama during our cruise. It was coupled with a fancy tea at the Fairmont Empress, making this excursion even more appealing. Discover the beauty of the gardens and tasty tea offerings in Victoria’s Butchart Gardens and Empress Tea – A Match Made in Girlie Heaven.

Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia

Seattle, Washington

Our Alaska Celebrity cruise set sail from Seattle, Washington. My family modeled much of what we did in the Emerald City on the advice from Seattle aficionado Allison Holm in this article, How to Spend Three Days in Seattle with Kids, and the suggestions from Lora Shinn, author of the extremely handy guidebook, Northwest Kid Trips. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly boutique hotel with fun extras located near the Seattle Waterfront, take a peek at my Hotel Monaco review.

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About Colleen Lanin

Colleen Lanin is the founder/editor-in-chief of TravelMamas.com. As the author of her book, "The Travel Mamas' Guide," she teaches parents not only how to survive a trip with children, but also how to love exploring the world with their offspring. Her stories have appeared online and in print for such outlets as the "Today" show, NBCNews.com, Parenting Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, Expedia, San Diego Family Magazine, and more. Colleen gives tips on television, radio, and as a public speaker. She has a master’s degree in business administration with a background in marketing. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two kids.

We also stopped in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway on our Alaskan cruise and I loved them all but wish we would have had more time to explore Skagway. We did the White Pass Yukon train trip in that port so by the time we returned to the town it was time to get back aboard the ship. If I went on another Alaskan cruise then I would spend more time checking out Skagway!

Very nice piece and captures the beauty of this cruise. I have clients (family) doing their first Alaska (on Celebrity also) that will enjoy this review, There are some great Pre and post tours for Alaska to maximize your time there.

Hi there! I'm Colleen Lanin, the founder of Travel Mamas. I launched this family travel blog in 2009 to help parents better connect with their kids and the world through travel and beyond. I love being a mom, traveling, swimming in fabulous hotel pools, and doing Pilates so I can eat lots of gluten-free dessert. Click on the pic to learn more about moi!